Urinary Incontinence Specialist

Urinary incontinence causes such embarrassment that many women hesitate to talk about the problem. It may help to know you’re not alone: Almost half of all American women have some degree of urinary incontinence. The providers at Fairfax OB-GYN Associates in Fair Oaks, Gainesville, Woodbridge, and Dulles, Virginia, have extensive experience treating urinary incontinence and bladder disorders. Please don’t suffer in silence, because urinary incontinence is treatable. Contact them or book an appointment online to get started on the path to urinary health.

Urinary Incontinence Q & A

What are the different types of urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence occurs when you lose bladder control and accidentally leak urine. The severity of the problem depends on the type of incontinence:

Stress incontinence: Urine leakage occurs when pressure is placed on the bladder as you sneeze, laugh, cough, or lift a heavy object.

Urge incontinence: Also called overactive bladder, this type causes a frequent need to urinate that’s so strong and sudden, you may not get to the bathroom in time.

Overflow incontinence: The bladder doesn’t empty completely, so you have a frequent or constant dribble of urine.

Functional incontinence: A physical problem, such as arthritis, makes it hard to move fast enough, so you don’t make it to the toilet in time

What causes urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence may be a temporary condition caused by a urinary tract infection, constipation, or something you ate or drank that stimulated your bladder, such as caffeine, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners.

When urinary incontinence becomes chronic, it’s caused by an underlying health condition -- often one that requires treatment by a gynecologist -- such as:

Pregnancy: Hormonal changes and the weight of the baby cause stress incontinence

Childbirth: Vaginal delivery may affect muscles and nerves used for bladder control

Pelvic organ prolapse: Pelvic floor muscles that control and support the bladder weaken, and the bladder and other organs may drop towards the vagina

Obstruction: Stones or tumors in the urinary tract can cause overflow incontinence

Neurological disorders: Multiple sclerosis, a stroke, or a spinal injury are a few examples of disorders that affect nerves involved in bladder control

How is urinary incontinence treated?

Urodynamic studies available at Fairfax OB-GYN Associates examine the bladder to determine the cause of leaks and blockages. Depending on the type of incontinence, several treatment options are available.

Your provider at Fairfax OB-GYN Associates discusses the treatment plan that’s best for your individual needs, explain the purpose of each treatment, and describe how they work:

Exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles

Bladder training

Medications

Collagen injections

Botox injections

Urethral insert

Transvaginal tape procedures

Laparoscopic bladder suspension

Surgery to restore pelvic floor muscles and insert slings

What is Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT)?

PFMT is treatment for bladder and bowel control, voiding dysfunction, pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction. This method is non-surgical and painless, and works to retrain the pelvic floor muscles to actively support your bladder and bowel and reduce the likelihood of leaking.

PFMT is indicated for:

Urinary incontinence

Overactive bladder (OAB)/urinary frequency

Urgency

Chronic pelvic pain

Fecal incontinence

Chronic constipation

Painful sexual intercourse

Appointments are scheduled once a week for up to 8 weeks, depending on each patient's needs and conditions. Your first visit will take about 1 hour and follow-up visits usually take 30 minutes.

Please contact the office if you have any questions regarding Pelvic Floor Muscle Training treatment!

Major Insurance Providers Accepted

Fairfax OB-GYN accepts most major insurance plans. Please call any of our offices to inquire about your particular insurance. We also accept self-pay patients and out of network patients and would be glad to assist you in arranging for payment of services. After services are provided, we will be glad to file claims to your insurance company on your behalf. We will assist you in making sure that your insurance pays us timely and appropriately for services we have provided to you. However, please know that ultimately you are financially responsible for payment of bills incurred. Any patient who schedules an appointment and fails to keep that appointment without providing 24 hour notice of cancellation will be responsible for a $100 no show fee. Any inquiries should be directed to the Billing Department at (703) 391-1500.